Yachting 18FT WORLD TITLE

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29153, 14 March 1960, Page 13

Yachting 18FT WORLD TITLE

Surprise Wins Easily

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND. March 13. The 18ft world. , yachting championship for the J. J. Giltinan Trophy was won by B. L. Skinner's Surprise on Saturday, when the Queensland yacht Talpan again lost her mast when well in the lead. This left Surprise in an unassailable points position with one heat to go. In the final heat today there was still a lot of Interest in who would take second place on- points. Janzen Girl finished first, ahead of Surprise, but the placings are in doubt until an inquiry is completed. If the placings are unaltered Janzen Girl will be runner-up on points. The final heat today was sailed in light weather which did not suit several of the boats, particularly Taipan, which tailed the fleet until she passed Ace Hi on the last leg. Surprise led at all marks except the finish, where Janzen Girl took the honours.

On this leg, Janzen Girl gained Imln 19sec on Surprise, while Vindicator had opened the gap to Quandary. Further back, Taipan which had been slowly but steadily gaining on Ace Hi, finally passed her some time before they reached the line.

The finishing times on the last two heats, which started at 2.30 p.m. each day, were:— Fourth Heat.—Quandary, 3hr 57 min 50sec; Surprise, 3hr 59min 20 sec: Jantzen Girl, 4hr 18sec; Ace Hi, 4hr 6min Isec; Vindicator, 4hr 12min 52sec.

Fifth Heat.—Jantzen Girl. 4hr 16 inin 44sec; Surprise, 4hr 17min 39 sec; Vindicator, 4hr 19min 20sec; Quandary, 4hr 20min 25sec; Taipan, 4hr 21min 33sec; Ace Hi, 4hr 22inin 46sec.

The points were withheld pending the result of an inquiry.